Korean energy economist to head UN climate science panel

Washington: A South Korean professor of climate change economics will lead the Nobel Prize-winning group of climate scientists that keeps track of global warming.

The United Nations-affiliated Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change announced today it had elected Hoesung Lee, one of its vice chairmen, to its top post.

Lee is president of the government affiliated Korea Energy Economics Institute and past dean of the College of Environment at Keimyung University. Each country is allowed one vote for climate panel leader.

Lee pledged to work more closely with business and industry and pay special attention to job creation, health, poverty reduction and technology development.

The previous chairman, Rajendra Pachauri, resigned in February after charges of sexual harassment were leveled against him in his native India.